Together We Can. A Consumer Education Module for People with Mental Retardation.

Wilcox, Suzanne Dale

This consumer education module is designed to help mentally retarded persons take charge of their lives as consumers. An introductory section contains information on the development of these learning materials. Following the introductory section, four units, each of which is designed to be presented in a five-hour session, are provided. The first unit contains six activities to help students become skilled consumers. These activities involve identifying areas of consumer concern, avoiding "rip-offs," supermarket role playing, decision-making skills, and saying no as a consumer. Activities in the second unit, which covers medical services, deal with the first visit, trusting the doctor, and steps that the individual can take to safeguard his or her own health. The third unit contains activities on a first visit to a lawyer, basic legal rights, steps to secure one's rights, and complaining to one's lawyer. Consuming employment services is the subject of the fourth unit, which consists of exercises requiring students to list their job goals, describe the job they desire most, express their job aspirations as they would to potential employers, and make field trips to a work site. Appendixes contain information on choosing a doctor and finding a lawyer. (MN)